Newswatch

John Cruz kicks off zoo’s ‘Wildest Show’

The Honolulu Zoo’s “Wildest Show in Town” 10-week summer concert series begins Wednesday, with singer John Cruz performing from 6 to 7 p.m. Admission is $3 and gates open at 4:35 p.m. A drawing will be held each week to give away an ukulele.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Hawaii County considers ban on plastic bags

The Hawaii County Council is considering an ordinance that would outlaw plastic checkout bags, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports.

Bill 17, sponsored by Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann, states plastic bags are detrimental because they do not degrade into a safe compound, introduce unsafe chemicals into the environment, contribute to unsightly litter, create the potential death of marine and pasture animals through entanglement and ingestion, and create an impediment to the county’s landfill diversion goals.

If passed, shoppers would be “encouraged” to use “environmentally preferable alternatives, such as reusable bags,” or go without. Though plastic checkout bags would be prohibited, business would be allowed to make such bags available for purchase for one year after the ordinance’s effective date.

The public will have an opportunity to provide input on the ban during hearings, the first of which is scheduled at 5 p.m. today at Keaau Community Centerer.

Plastic bags are already banned on Maui and Kauai.

$4.3M to fund neighbor isle job training

Hawaii’s senators say $4.3 million is being appropriated to the University of Hawaii for job training and educational opportunities on Hawaii island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui and Molokai.

U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka said the funding was obtained through an earmark in last fiscal year’s federal budget recently released by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The University of Hawaii-Maui College oversees the program, which started 14 years ago.

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